How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the informal economy in the Philippines?
Answer (1)
The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the informal economy in the Philippines, which includes workers like street vendors, tricycle drivers, household helpers, and small-scale sellers who are not officially registered or protected by labor laws. When lockdowns were enforced, many of these workers lost their daily income overnight. Because they weren’t part of formal employment, they had no health insurance, paid leave, or financial support from employers. This pushed millions of families into deeper poverty. Government aid programs helped, but many informal workers were left out or received support late, showing the need to better include informal workers in national economic planning.
